2007-047 RES-Approving an application for a recreational trails grant through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

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Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Texas Recreational Trails Fund elements proposed in the project accessible to users who are physically andlor mentally disabled. All trailhead parking facilities, trail bridges, and restrooms developed with grant assistance must be fully accessible. To the greatest extent possible, trails intended for use by pedestrians should be accessible to people using wheelchairs, whether manual or motorized. Projects in developed areas should place particular emphasis on accessibility. Sponsors will need to justify why it is not feasible to make trails fully accessible. Sometimes physical limitations of the trail corridor site do not allow for total accessibility. However, land managers are encouraged to incorporate accessible features when they do not negatively impact the environment. When a sponsor proposes accessible facilities above and beyond that required by law, it will make the application more competitive and increase its potential for funding. SUBMISSION, REVIEW, AND SELECTION OF PROJECTS Project applicants shall submit an original and 12 copies of the Project Application and applicable support documentation, including one original 7.5 minute U.S.G.S. quad map(s) with the project drawn, to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Recreational Trails Program, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas, 78744, postmarked by June 15' of each year. Review and Evaluation Process The project applications will be reviewed for completeness and eligibility prior to the being reviewed for quality. The Texas Trails Advisory Board will assist TPWD staff in selecting a slate of recommended projects to be presented to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission for final selection. Project applicants will be notified in writing of their project's selection or disapproval after the Commission action. Criteria for Selecting Projects The Texas Trails Advisory Board and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff will evaluate projects in terms of their overall quality, ability to serve recreational needs, cost-effectiveness, benefits, community support, innovation, geographic scope and distribution, and accommodation of barrier free access. The cost-effectiveness criteria rewards those projects which accomplish a lot with a little amount of funding as well as those projects which propose a greater proportion of basic trail work as opposed to support facilities, design and engineering. Basic trail work includes tasks such as trail layout, vegetation clearing, bridges, work on the trail tread (shaping, drainage structures, surfacing, steps, and erosion control), retaining walls, and acquisition of trail corridor. Trailside and trailhead facilities are considered support facilities because they are not providing direct recreation opportunities. Projects which serve multiple, compatible trail users will be given priority as will projects undertaken with partnerships due to their ability to build constituencies for trail projects. Projects in which the sponsor is willing to provide more than the minimum 20% match will also be given preference depending upon the extent of over- match committed. Resubmission Sponsors whose projects are not selected and approved for funding may resubmit their proposals for consideration in the next cycle by notifying TPWD prior to the deadline which has been set for that cycle. Sponsors may wish to modify their proposals to give them a better chance of achieving a higher ranking. Sponsors must submit 13 total copies of the application and accompanying materials, even if resubmitting with no changes. PUBLIC SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO A PROJECT Documented public support or opposition to a project will be considered by the Texas Trails Advisory Board during the evaluation of projects and recommendations for funding. Resolutions of support from local political entities are not required to submit a project proposal for funding or to receive funding. However, if opposition to a project arises to the extent that a political subdivision, within whose jurisdiction the project falls, passes a resolution opposing funding of the project, that will be sufficient cause to not select the project. A resolution of opposition would also be grounds to rescind funding for a previously funded project if the resolution is received prior to the start of construction. vi